Ashley-Cooper is among six players slapped with one-match suspensions for staying out late and drinking last Tuesday night in Dublin.

Fifteen players in total have been disciplined for breaking team protocols by failing to return to the team hotel by midnight on the eve of their training-free day.

McKenzie admitted he was particularly disappointed that the likes of Ashley-Cooper and fellow veterans Benn Robinson and Tatafu Polota-Nau failed to lead by example on the night.

While Ashley-Cooper has copped his punishment, his mother said he was upset he had been painted as a boozer when his main crime was returning to the team hotel after 1am.

"These players are now being made an example of, but because Adam's the most senior player, they're coming down on him the hardest," she told Triple M.

"So he's missing a game for not upholding the behavioural and cultural standards of an elite athlete representing the Wallabies.

"He said he'll cop it and move forward but he's really upset because they are claiming excessive and inappropriate alcohol intake by him, and alcohol was not the problem.

"It was the time he got home."

Mrs Ashley-Cooper said the 29-year-old admitted he had several beers with teammates but had not drunk excessively.

While there was no official curfew for the tour, McKenzie said the players were aware they needed be back in their hotel by midnight.

In judging each case, the coach said punishments were decided on the lateness of their return, the amount of alcohol they consumed and their coming involvement in the Ireland Test match that weekend, which Australia won 32-15.

McKenzie also said players were permitted to have a glass or two of alcohol with their Tuesday night dinner which is usually held together as full group.

In a break from routine in Dublin, four groups of around eight players were allowed to choose their own restaurants.

Former Wallabies star Drew Mitchell, who is close friends with Ashley-Cooper, also showed his disdain for the bans on his Twitter account.

"The saddest thing is that some players think drinking a few beers is worse for the culture than texting shit behind their team-mates' backs," Mitchell posted.

When contacted by AAP, the France-based winger declined to clarify which players.

But another ex-Wallabies winger, Ben Tune, was full of praise for McKenzie's hard-line stance.

"And THAT is why Link is the best man to mould these young Wallabies into a world class team #standards," he tweeted.